Rare Hosmer sculpture discovered in a rural England garden
An unassuming garden in the Cotswolds has yielded a marble bust of Daphne that turns out to be a work by 19th‑century American sculptor Harriet Hosmer. The stone figure, long hidden beneath moss and lichen, was spotted by antique specialist Thomas Jenner‑Fust during a routine valuation and instantly recognised as a rare piece by the pioneering female artist.
The bust is one of only four verified examples of Hosmer’s early independent work, created after she moved to Rome. Its fine carving, laurel leaves at the base and a Latin inscription – Harriet Hosmer me fecit Romae – confirm its authenticity and underscore Hosmer’s status as a trailblazer in a male‑dominated field.
Now in the hands of Chorley’s Auctioneers in Gloucester, the sculpture is slated for a March auction, promising to bring a hidden masterpiece back into the public eye. Its unexpected journey from garden ornament to auction block highlights how even modest rural settings can conceal objects of major art‑historical importance.